The House Budget Committee passed a resolution 24-19 Wednesday that would require the Energy and Commerce Committee to eliminate $2.2 billion over five years from programs it oversees, most likely Medicaid. The House will vote next week on the fiscal 2005 budget resolution.

The Senate last week passed a budget plan that did not have Medicaid cuts. However, the Senate Budget Committee originally recommended the Senate approve a budget with $11 billion in Medicaid cuts over five years. The differences between the two final versions will be hashed out in a conference committee.